NURBURG, Germany – Lewis Hamilton matched Michael Schumacher as the winningest driver in Formula One history with his landmark 91st victory during Sunday’s Eifel Grand Prix at the Nurburgring.
Though the end result – a 4.47-second victory over Red Bull’s Max Verstappen – might suggest Hamilton’s historic triumph was easy, the Mercedes driver had anything but a simple path to the win.
Hamilton nearly collided with pole-sitting teammate Valtteri Bottas in the opening corners, with Bottas running Hamilton hard in an effort to keep the lead on the start of the 60-lap race.
It was an endeavor that was ultimately successful for Bottas, who held serve and raced out to the early lead as Hamilton worked to keep Verstappen behind him through the early stages of the grand prix.
Bottas remained out front until a critical error at turn one cost him control of the race.
Starting lap 13, Bottas locked up his front brakes in a big way on the approach to turn one, flat-spotting his Pirelli tires and allowing Hamilton to swoop past and take a lead he wouldn’t relinquish after that.
Bottas pitted a lap later for a fresh set of medium tires, but later retired with power unit issues.
That left Hamilton and Verstappen alone at the head of the pack as the two combatants for the win, but Hamilton made it look easy for the longest time, holding a six-second margin at halfway and effectively cruising for most of the second half.
However, a safety car period coming to 15 to go for the stricken McLaren of Lando Norris bunched the field up for a final restart and gave Verstappen a hint of a chance at stealing the win away.
Hamilton, however, was not to be denied on this day. He raced away from the pursuing Red Bull on the restart and into the history books, securing the checkered flag for the 91st time in his career, seventh time in 2020 and second time at the Nurburgring.
The six-time F-1 champion further extended his championship points lead heading into the stretch run of the season, as he chases another of Schumacher’s records – a seventh world driving title.
“We had a good start there to get up alongside Valtteri, but then it started to understeer going into the corner, so I tried to give (him) as much room as possible. Then he was in my blind spot, and I didn’t know where he was after that, so I moved as wide (as I could) to the outside and he came back (at me). He did an amazing job,” Hamilton recalled. “I remember coming out of that corner thinking, ‘Good on you, man,’ because I was impressed. That was really good.
“After that I just tried to make sure I could hang on to him for as long as possible. I managed to look after my tires really well, where he was wearing his front tires, so I knew in the next couple of laps there before he had the lockup that it was time to push,” Hamilton continued. “It was not an easy race at all. The Red Bulls were so fast. Max … the one place and chance he had was at the restart, and luckily I was able to get away from him and pull a gap.
“We’ve got a serious fight on our hands (going forward), but I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
In parc ferme, Hamilton was nearly struck speechless by Schumacher’s son Mick, who presented Hamilton with a 2012 helmet of his father’s from Michael’s time with Mercedes AMG Petronas as a commemorative gift for the record-tying achievement.
“I don’t even know what to say,” said Hamilton of matching Michael Schumacher’s win record. “When you grow up genuinely idolizing someone, in terms of the quality of driver they are and what they’re continuisly able to do … but seeing that dominance for so long, I don’t think anyone – especially me – imagined I’d be anywhere near Michael in terms of records.
“It’s an incredible honor and will take some time to get used to.”
Verstappen’s runner-up finish was “where we should have been,” according to the young Dutchman, while Daniel Ricciardo crossed third to deliver Renault their first podium finish since the 2011 Malaysian Grand Prix.
It was also Ricciardo’s first podium since 2018 with Red Bull.
Racing Point’s Sergio Perez and McLaren’s Carlos Sainz were fourth and fifth, respectively, with AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc following behind.
Nico Hulkenberg, subbing for the ill Lance Stroll, took the second Racing Point from last on the grid to an eighth-place finish, with Haas F1’s Romain Grosjean and Alfa Romeo’s Antonio Giovinazzi filling out the points-scoring positions.
Once again, the Ferrari of Sebastian Vettel finished outside the points, coming home 11th.
The Formula One World Championship season continues with the Heineken Portuguese Grand Prix, Oct. 23-25 at Autodromo Internacional do Algarve.
The finish:
Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo, Sergio Perez, Carlos Sainz, Pierre Gasly, Charles Leclerc, Nico Hulkenberg, Romain Grosjean, Antonio Giovinazzi, Sebastian Vettel, Kimi Räikkönen, Kevin Magnussen, Nicholas Latifi, Daniil Kvyat, Lando Norris, Alex Albon, Esteban Ocon, Valteri Bottas, George Russell.